Jay
#10,107 for girls in 2025, 9 births · #392 for boys in 2025, 809 births
Given to boys 98.7% of the time
Showing
- Peak · boys
- 1960 · 5,385 births
- Debut · boys
- 103 births
- In top 100 · boys
- 16 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 195,548since 1880
Jay over time
boys
Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #10,107 | 9 | #392 | 809 |
| 2024 | #6,932 | 16 | #396 | 822 |
| 2023 | #8,989 | 11 | #381 | 837 |
| 2022 | #7,631 | 14 | #367 | 897 |
| 2021 | #8,024 | 13 | #377 | 864 |
| 2020 | #8,406 | 12 | #380 | 808 |
| 2019 | #8,597 | 12 | #373 | 848 |
| 2018 | — | #397 | 799 | |
| 2017 | #8,776 | 12 | #382 | 859 |
| 2016 | #14,331 | 6 | #392 | 818 |
| 2015 | #11,835 | 8 | #393 | 806 |
| 2014 | #6,987 | 17 | #370 | 850 |
| 2013 | #13,150 | 7 | #389 | 767 |
| 2012 | #16,869 | 5 | #386 | 772 |
| 2011 | — | #397 | 718 | |
| 2010 | #14,959 | 6 | #410 | 687 |
| 2009 | #9,975 | 11 | #408 | 719 |
| 2008 | — | #394 | 763 | |
| 2007 | #8,520 | 14 | #396 | 752 |
| 2006 | #13,606 | 7 | #350 | 867 |
| 2005 | #14,502 | 6 | #348 | 852 |
| 2004 | #12,761 | 7 | #347 | 822 |
| 2003 | #7,998 | 13 | #344 | 810 |
| 2002 | — | #334 | 825 | |
| 2001 | #8,196 | 12 | #313 | 888 |
| 2000 | #15,031 | 5 | #326 | 869 |
| 1999 | #9,479 | 9 | #325 | 855 |
| 1998 | #10,122 | 8 | #326 | 833 |
| 1997 | #10,836 | 7 | #292 | 946 |
| 1996 | #8,812 | 9 | #287 | 942 |
| 1995 | #7,514 | 11 | #275 | 1,011 |
| 1994 | #6,319 | 14 | #262 | 1,102 |
| 1993 | #4,998 | 19 | #260 | 1,106 |
| 1992 | #10,479 | 7 | #236 | 1,220 |
| 1991 | #7,987 | 10 | #234 | 1,268 |
| 1990 | #6,131 | 14 | #217 | 1,403 |
| 1989 | #6,531 | 12 | #203 | 1,444 |
| 1988 | #5,321 | 15 | #199 | 1,369 |
| 1987 | #5,312 | 14 | #185 | 1,487 |
| 1986 | #4,539 | 17 | #179 | 1,484 |
| 1985 | #3,983 | 20 | #175 | 1,524 |
| 1984 | #4,166 | 18 | #171 | 1,554 |
| 1983 | #3,806 | 20 | #170 | 1,541 |
| 1982 | #4,167 | 18 | #164 | 1,667 |
| 1981 | #4,344 | 17 | #153 | 1,787 |
| 1980 | #3,609 | 22 | #141 | 1,984 |
| 1979 | #3,541 | 22 | #126 | 2,145 |
| 1978 | #3,196 | 24 | #119 | 2,151 |
| 1977 | #3,612 | 20 | #130 | 2,097 |
| 1976 | #3,540 | 19 | #126 | 2,105 |
| 1975 | #2,232 | 37 | #117 | 2,174 |
| 1974 | #2,616 | 28 | #110 | 2,360 |
| 1973 | #2,267 | 34 | #118 | 2,215 |
| 1972 | #2,057 | 38 | #115 | 2,443 |
| 1971 | #3,062 | 22 | #114 | 2,866 |
| 1970 | #2,120 | 38 | #97 | 3,415 |
| 1969 | #2,350 | 30 | #95 | 3,181 |
| 1968 | #2,164 | 31 | #87 | 3,428 |
| 1967 | #1,848 | 40 | #87 | 3,612 |
| 1966 | #2,586 | 22 | #91 | 3,598 |
| 1965 | #2,064 | 32 | #90 | 3,944 |
| 1964 | #1,975 | 36 | #84 | 4,567 |
| 1963 | #1,815 | 41 | #85 | 4,720 |
| 1962 | #1,444 | 59 | #80 | 5,158 |
| 1961 | #1,697 | 45 | #81 | 5,119 |
| 1960 | #1,695 | 44 | #78 | 5,385 |
| 1959 | #1,552 | 49 | #88 | 4,940 |
| 1958 | #1,578 | 46 | #86 | 5,027 |
| 1957 | #1,507 | 50 | #88 | 4,630 |
| 1956 | #1,378 | 57 | #92 | 4,120 |
| 1955 | #1,480 | 47 | #103 | 3,396 |
| 1954 | #1,317 | 57 | #101 | 3,372 |
| 1953 | #1,424 | 47 | #99 | 3,235 |
| 1952 | #1,454 | 44 | #106 | 3,028 |
| 1951 | #1,555 | 37 | #116 | 2,637 |
| 1950 | #1,653 | 32 | #115 | 2,584 |
| 1949 | #1,469 | 39 | #118 | 2,457 |
| 1948 | #1,669 | 31 | #123 | 2,272 |
| 1947 | #1,576 | 36 | #119 | 2,438 |
| 1946 | #1,360 | 41 | #115 | 2,196 |
| 1945 | #1,261 | 40 | #125 | 1,760 |
| 1944 | #1,486 | 30 | #136 | 1,554 |
| 1943 | #1,625 | 27 | #134 | 1,673 |
| 1942 | #1,917 | 20 | #133 | 1,598 |
| 1941 | #1,569 | 25 | #137 | 1,416 |
| 1940 | #1,591 | 24 | #139 | 1,291 |
| 1939 | #2,038 | 16 | #142 | 1,146 |
| 1938 | #1,505 | 25 | #138 | 1,181 |
| 1937 | #1,416 | 27 | #136 | 1,147 |
| 1936 | #1,549 | 23 | #140 | 1,102 |
| 1935 | #1,550 | 23 | #147 | 1,067 |
| 1934 | #1,344 | 29 | #157 | 933 |
| 1933 | #1,658 | 21 | #151 | 949 |
| 1932 | #1,520 | 25 | #161 | 934 |
| 1931 | #1,941 | 17 | #166 | 867 |
| 1930 | #1,748 | 21 | #166 | 891 |
| 1929 | #1,447 | 28 | #168 | 842 |
| 1928 | #1,310 | 34 | #185 | 769 |
| 1927 | #1,303 | 37 | #171 | 870 |
| 1926 | #1,198 | 41 | #175 | 827 |
| 1925 | #1,946 | 20 | #182 | 789 |
| 1924 | #2,308 | 16 | #170 | 854 |
| 1923 | #2,264 | 16 | #172 | 829 |
| 1922 | #2,387 | 15 | #180 | 780 |
| 1921 | #2,195 | 17 | #174 | 828 |
| 1920 | #2,172 | 17 | #201 | 666 |
| 1919 | #2,813 | 11 | #197 | 637 |
| 1918 | #1,887 | 20 | #185 | 706 |
| 1917 | #1,431 | 27 | #188 | 643 |
| 1916 | #1,445 | 26 | #184 | 640 |
| 1915 | #1,964 | 16 | #200 | 537 |
| 1914 | #1,740 | 15 | #213 | 379 |
| 1913 | #1,528 | 15 | #192 | 349 |
| 1912 | #2,360 | 7 | #183 | 318 |
| 1911 | #2,463 | 5 | #229 | 126 |
| 1910 | #1,773 | 8 | #213 | 120 |
| 1909 | — | #217 | 98 | |
| 1908 | #1,439 | 9 | #218 | 89 |
| 1907 | — | #210 | 91 | |
| 1906 | — | #203 | 87 | |
| 1905 | #1,538 | 7 | #193 | 92 |
| 1904 | — | #189 | 95 | |
| 1903 | — | #193 | 82 | |
| 1902 | — | #188 | 89 | |
| 1901 | — | #160 | 96 | |
| 1900 | — | #189 | 107 | |
| 1899 | — | #208 | 63 | |
| 1898 | — | #184 | 85 | |
| 1897 | — | #186 | 82 | |
| 1896 | #1,583 | 5 | #202 | 78 |
| 1895 | — | #171 | 91 | |
| 1894 | — | #160 | 96 | |
| 1893 | — | #142 | 105 | |
| 1892 | — | #145 | 111 | |
| 1891 | — | #137 | 99 | |
| 1890 | — | #133 | 108 | |
| 1889 | — | #139 | 104 | |
| 1888 | — | #129 | 122 | |
| 1887 | — | #124 | 106 | |
| 1886 | — | #126 | 107 | |
| 1885 | — | #149 | 91 | |
| 1884 | — | #130 | 110 | |
| 1883 | — | #128 | 97 | |
| 1882 | — | #170 | 80 | |
| 1881 | — | #123 | 96 | |
| 1880 | — | #126 | 103 | |
First appearance
1880
In the first year the SSA published name data, Jay was already there! It came in at #126, and was given to 103 baby boys.
Quietest stretch: 1895–1899, when fewer than 92 boys a year got the name.
Where Jay is popular in 1959
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · boys
- North Dakota#41 · 1 in 148
- Vermont#41 · 1 in 170
- Wyoming#47 · 1 in 175
- South Dakota#49 · 1 in 203
- Montana#50 · 1 in 205
Best ever in a state: #19 in Utah, 1937.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Dakota | #41 | 51 | 1 in 148 |
| Vermont | #41 | 24 | 1 in 170 |
| Wyoming | #47 | 19 | 1 in 175 |
| South Dakota | #49 | 40 | 1 in 203 |
| Montana | #50 | 38 | 1 in 205 |
| Wisconsin | #52 | 216 | 1 in 220 |
| Iowa | #54 | 134 | 1 in 231 |
| Nebraska | #55 | 74 | 1 in 218 |
| Hawaii | #56 | 34 | 1 in 210 |
| Indiana | #56 | 203 | 1 in 270 |
| Minnesota | #56 | 179 | 1 in 236 |
| Rhode Island | #56 | 30 | 1 in 296 |
| Maine | #57 | 41 | 1 in 259 |
| New Hampshire | #57 | 22 | 1 in 275 |
| Idaho | #58 | 37 | 1 in 205 |
| Utah | #60 | 53 | 1 in 224 |
| Washington | #60 | 122 | 1 in 258 |
| Colorado | #65 | 78 | 1 in 273 |
| Delaware | #65 | 16 | 1 in 325 |
| Massachusetts | #65 | 130 | 1 in 434 |
| Oregon | #65 | 67 | 1 in 256 |
| Connecticut | #66 | 64 | 1 in 416 |
| Oklahoma | #68 | 88 | 1 in 273 |
| Pennsylvania | #71 | 312 | 1 in 390 |
| Kansas | #73 | 78 | 1 in 305 |
| Maryland | #76 | 84 | 1 in 391 |
| New York | #77 | 388 | 1 in 466 |
| Ohio | #77 | 300 | 1 in 378 |
| Illinois | #79 | 262 | 1 in 444 |
| New Jersey | #80 | 119 | 1 in 515 |
| District of Columbia | #91 | 33 | 1 in 450 |
| California | #94 | 393 | 1 in 457 |
| Michigan | #94 | 187 | 1 in 516 |
| Nevada | #95 | 7 | 1 in 391 |
| Missouri | #98 | 96 | 1 in 513 |
| Arizona | #99 | 42 | 1 in 385 |
| West Virginia | #103 | 38 | 1 in 528 |
| Florida | #107 | 109 | 1 in 493 |
| Arkansas | #110 | 37 | 1 in 529 |
| Texas | #114 | 251 | 1 in 491 |
| New Mexico | #116 | 27 | 1 in 494 |
| Alaska | #117 | 6 | 1 in 485 |
| Tennessee | #132 | 51 | 1 in 782 |
| Kentucky | #138 | 41 | 1 in 882 |
| Virginia | #138 | 58 | 1 in 745 |
| North Carolina | #141 | 66 | 1 in 798 |
| Louisiana | #156 | 56 | 1 in 761 |
| Georgia | #167 | 52 | 1 in 922 |
| Alabama | #177 | 38 | 1 in 1,012 |
| South Carolina | #178 | 27 | 1 in 1,059 |
| Mississippi | #200 | 22 | 1 in 1,259 |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Jay
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
- 4 spots since 2024 (#396 → #392)
- 12 spots since 2020 (#380 → #392)
- 1 spot since 2015 (#393 → #392)
- Biggest jump: 46 spots in 1912 (#229 → #183)
- Biggest drop: 47 spots in 1882 (#123 → #170)
Rise & fade · boys
80 yrs to peak
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1960 at #78 (5,385 births)
- Births halved by 1972, 12 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 16 yrs
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 16 yrs · run 1956–1970
- Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 396
- Highest: 1 in 396 boys born in 1960 were named Jay (0.25%)
- Latest: 1 in 2,111 boys born in 2025 (0.05%)
Era · boys
The 1960s
- 21.8% of all boys named Jay (42,712) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,016 | #123 (1881) | #134 |
| 1890s | 918 | #133 (1890) | #167 |
| 1900s | 926 | #160 (1901) | #196 |
| 1910s | 4,455 | #183 (1912) | #198 |
| 1920s | 8,054 | #168 (1929) | #178 |
| 1930s | 10,217 | #136 (1937) | #150 |
| 1940s | 18,655 | #115 (1946) | #128 |
| 1950s | 36,969 | #86 (1958) | #99 |
| 1960s | 42,712 | #78 (1960) | #86 |
| 1970s | 23,971 | #97 (1970) | #117 |
| 1980s | 15,841 | #141 (1980) | #174 |
| 1990s | 10,686 | #217 (1990) | #271 |
| 2000s | 8,167 | #313 (2001) | #356 |
| 2010s | 7,924 | #370 (2014) | #389 |
| 2020s | 5,037 | #367 (2022) | #382 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Jay in 1959
girls
#1,552
49 births · 1 in 41,295 girls
boys
#88
4,940 births · 1 in 432 boys
Top girls' names in 1959
Top boys' names in 1959
More about 1959
girls
2,023,462 girls got a published name in 1959; 1 in 41,295 of them was named Jay, which outranked 78.5% of the 7,202 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.9% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Jay
- #1,537Tracee50
- #1,537Troy50
- #1,537Valentina50
- #1,552Jay49
- #1,552Arnita49
- #1,552Bari49
- #1,552Bethann49
- #1,567Abbe48
- #1,567Adriene48
- #1,567Christene48
Tied with 14 names at #1,552; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Biggest movers since 1958
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
2,134,518 boys got a published name in 1959; 1 in 432 of them was named Jay, which outranked 98.1% of the 4,572 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 29.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Jay
Biggest movers since 1958
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.